Portable hydraulic nipper for cutting metal



Dec. 7, 1954 R. E. WALLACE, SR 2,696,042

PORTABLE HYDRAULIC NIPPER FOR CUTTING METAL Filed April 21, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l QZQMQM 1954 R. E. WALLACE, SR

PORTABLE HYDRAULIC NIPPER FOR CUTTING METAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 21. 1952 INVENTOR. Aoer/EA/a/zre 5):

BY MI W 1 Jrraevvayy+ United States Patent PORTABLE HYDRAULIC NIPPER FOR CUTTING METAL Robert E. Wallace, Sn, Smitllfield, Ohio Application April 21, 1952, Serial No. 283,311

16 Claims. (Cl. 30-180) This invention relates, as indicated, to portable and hydraulically operated, nippers for cutting metal, and, more particularly, to an improved arrangement of nipper apparatus which may be manually carried by an operator and which has a self-contained and manually operable. fluid. pressure system which may be operated with ease while the entire apparatus is held in the operators hands.

The use of nippers for cutting metal bolts and the like is well known, and hydraulically operated nippers have been provided for this purpose. In many cases, the bolt or other piece of metal to be cut is in a location not readily accessible such as, for example, in the case of bolts securing a truck or other vehicle body to its chassis. Due to unwieldiness and other factors, hydraulically operated mechanisms available heretofore have been unsuitable for such operations. Moreover, most forms of such mechanisms heretofore proposed have required a wheeled support for moving the apparatus from one position to another in those cases in which it was portable,

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a portable arrangement of hydraulically operated nippers in which the entire apparatus may be carried by the operator and which is further provided with a self-contained fluid pressure system for actuating the nippers. To this end, there is provided an elongated support which may be carried easily in the two hands of an operator. This support has the metal cutting nippers mounted at one end and a manually operable fluid pump is mounted at the other end. The pump is so arranged and constructed that the operator may eflect a pumping operation with one hand while his other hand is in supporting engagement with the support adjacent a central point. A fluid pressure cylinder is provided for actuating the nippers and its fluid supply conduits extend along the elongated support and connect it with the hand operated pump at the other end of the support.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a novel arrangement of fluid pressure system for supplying and exhausting fluid pressure with respect to the actuating cylinder for the metal cutting nippers.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a fluid pressure system of the character referred to a fluid reservoir in which the fluid is maintained under pressure together with a pair of check valves for alter nately connecting the reservoir and the cylinder with the hand pump.

A still further object of the invention is to provide nipper operating mechanism which includes a fluid pressure cylinder for actuating the nippers to eflect a metal cutting operation, a spring for moving the nippers in a reverse direction, and by-pass means for exhausting fluid from the cylinder when the nippers have moved to a predetermined cutting position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

In the drawings, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Fig. l is a side elevational view illustrating the general arrangement of the operating parts on a beam-like support, a portion of the beam-like support being broken away adjacent the hand operated pump;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic view shown partially in plan ice sure system for the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of fluid pressure cylinder; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a pivotal connection forming a part of a universal coupling.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates an elongated beam-like support comprised of a front section 2, a rear section 3, and an intermediate section 4. The front section 2 has a pivotal connection at 5 with the intermediate section, and the rear section 3 has a pivotal connection at 6 with the intermediate section 4. The pivotal axes of the connections 5 and 6 extend at right angles relative to each other and thus provide for universal adjustment of the position of the front section 2 with respect to the rear section 3.

The structure of the connection 5 is best illustrated in Fig. 5 in which the sections 2 and 4 are shown connected together by a pivot pin 7. The intermediate section is provided with a plurality of protuberances 3 arranged in a circular path receivable in similarly arranged openings 9 on the front section 2. A wing nut 10 is provided for clamping the sections 2 and 4- together with the protuberances 8 positioned in the openings 9 as illustrated in Fig. 5 to lock the section 2 against pivotal movement out of the position to which it may have been adjusted with respect to the axis of the pivot pin 7.

The structure of the pivotal connection 6 is best shown in Fig. 1. Referring to this figure, the connec tion 6 is shown as comprised of pairs of lugs 11 and 12 respectively on the rear section 3 and intermediate sec tion 4 which have aligned openings for the reception of a pivot pin 13. The upper set of lugs 11 and 12 have aligned openings 14 arranged in a circular path for the reception of a pair of locking pins 15 secured to a handle 16 attached to the upper end of the pivot pin 13. A spring 17 on the lower end of the pivot pin 13 provides a bias for holding the locking pins 15 against movement out of the aligned openings 14. The pins 15 hold the parts 3 and 4 against pivotal movement relative to each other to and from any position to which such and partially in fragmentary section of the fluid presparts may have been adjusted with respect to the axis of the pivot pin 13.

Nipper mechanism designated as a whole by the numeral 18 is mounted on the forward end of the front section 2. As illustrated, the nipper mechanism comprises a pair of levers 19 having a pivot mounting 20. The levers 19 respectively have metal cutting jaws 21 extending forwardly of the pivot 20 and operating arms 22 extending rearwardly of the pin 20. A fluid pressure cylinder 23 has pivotal connections at its ends 24 with the operating arms 22 for moving such arms pivotally away from each other to move the nipper jaws 21 to their closed position as illustrated in Fig. l. A spring 25 has end connections at 26 with the ends of the arms 22 for pivotally biasing the movement of such arms toward each other to move the jaws 21 to their open position.

The cylinder 23 is mounted on a bracket 27 which is carried by pins 28 in slots 29 extending longitudinally of the front section 2. The parts 28 and 29 provide a pin and slot connection bywhich the cylinder supporting bracket27 may move longitudinally of the section 2 in response to arcuate movement of the pivot pins 24 upon opening and closing movement of the levers 19. The cylinder 23 has a sliding fit in the bracket 27 so that it may adjust its position axially of the support 1 in response to the arcuate movement of the arms 22. Fluid pressure is admitted to and exhausted from the cylinder 23 through conduits 30 and 31 in a manner to be described. The portion of the conduits 30 and 31 extending along the intermediate section 4 are flexible so as to allow for universal movement of the front section 2 relative to the rear section 3.

A pump designated as a whole by the numeral 35 is mounted on the end of the rear section 3. The pump comprises a cylinder 36 secured to the support 1 by a bracket 37 and has a piston plunger 38 vertically slidable therein. The plunger 38 has a pivotal connection at 39 to a manual operating lever 40. The lever 40 extends in a direct parallel to and in alignment with the support 1 and has a pivotal connection 41 at its forward end to a toggle link 42 having a pivotal connection with the support 1. A biasing spring 43 is provided for pivotally moving the lever 40 in an upper or clockwise direction. The spring 43 is mounted between caps 44 respectively secured to the support 3 and to the lower end of a link 45 having pivotal connection with the lever 40. The rear end of the support 1 is provided with a stationary pump handle extension 46 which lies directly under the pump operating lever 40. A locking link 47 is provided at the ends of the levers 40 and 46 to prevent clockwise movement of the lever 40 by its biasing spring 43.

The pump 35 may be operated when the locking link 47 is swung to a position releasing the handle 40 for movement upwardly by its biasing spring 43. When the handle 40 is so released, an operator may actuate the pump by grasping the handles 40 and 46 in one hand and exerting a sqeezing force to move the handle 40 downwardly. Downward movement of the handle 40 moves the piston 36 downwardly into the cylinder 36 to effect a pressure stroke of the pump. When the hand pressure is released, the spring 43 will move the handle 40 upwardly to withdraw the plunger 38 and effect a suction stroke of the pump.

A fluid reservoir 50 and control valve mechanism 51 are respectively mounted by brackets 52 and 53 on the rear section 3. The structure and operation of the reservoir 50 and valve mechanism 51 will be best understood by referring to the schematic showing of Fig. 3. In this showing, the reservoir 50 is illustrated as comprising a cylinder 54 having a plunger 55 therein. A spring 56 biases the plunger to the right as viewed in Fig. 3, and a shaft 57 connected to the plunger 55 extends axially outwardly through an end of the cylinder to a handle 58 by which it may be pulled to the left against the action of the spring 56. The space 59 to the right of the plunger 55 is filled with hydraulic fluid, and the spring 56 maintains this fluid under pressure so as to maintain the system filled with fluid at all times.

A conduit 60 connects the reservoir 50 with one end of the check valve mechanism 51, the cylinder supply conduit 30 being connected to the other end, and a conduit 61 connects the pump cylinder 36 to a center portion of the check valve mechanism 51. Spring biased ball check valves 62 and 63 alternately connect the actuating cylinder 23 and the reservoir 50 with the pump cylinder 36 through the conduits 30 and 61. When the pump plunger 38 moves upwardly on its suction stroke, the ball check valve 62 opens to allow fluid to flow from the reservoir 50 through the conduits 60 and 61 to the pump cylinder 36, and the check valve 63 closes to prevent the exhaust of fluid from the cylinder 23. On the downward pressure stroke of the plunger 38, the ball check valve 62 is seated to prevent return of fluid to the reservoir 50 and the valve 63 is opened so that fluid may be forced from the pump cylinder 36 through the conduits 61 and 30 to the cylinder 23. Reciprocation of the pump plunger 38 is thus operative to supply fluid under pressure to the cylinder 23, and thereby extend the cylinder 23 and its piston 65 relative to each other to move the pivot pins 24 and operating arms 22 outwardly to thereby effect a metal cutting movement of the jaws 21.

As was pointed out above, fluid is exhausted from the cylinder 23 through conduit 31 which is connected directly to the reservoir 50 through the conduit 60. The exhaust conduit 31 is connectable to the interior of the cylinder 23 through an exhaust port or passageway 66. This port or passageway is normally closed by a valve 67 on the lower end of an operating rod 68. Opening of the valve 67 is effected by an arm 70 secured to the piston 65 for movement therewith. As the piston 65 moves upwardly, arm 70 strikes a stop-nut 71 adjustably mounted on the upper end of the rod 68 and continued upward movement of the piston 65 carries the rod 68 upwardly to open the valve 67. When the valve 67 is open, the fluid under pressure within the cylinder 23 can exhaust through the passageway 66 and conduits 31 and 60 and thus be returned to the reservoir 50. Once this exhaust flow starts, the pressure of the fluid against the lower end of the shaft 68 will hold it in its upper position and prevent it from seating to close the valve 67 until the spring 25 has moved the piston 65 downwardly in the cylinder 23 to exhaust all the fluid therefrom. The opening movement of the rod 68 and valve 67 is arranged to take place just prior to movement of the tips 72 of the metal cutting jaws 21 into engagement with each other. The stop-nut 71 has a threaded connection (not shown) on the rod 68 so that its axial position thereon may be adjusted to thereby adjust the extent of closing movement of the jaws 21. A second stop 73 on the rod 68 for engagement by the arm 70 is provided to insure seating of the valve 67 when the piston 65 moves to its lowermost position. The valve 67 is larger than the rod 68 to provide an annular shoulder thereabout against which the pressure of the fluid in the conduit 66 is effective to hold the valve against movement out of its closed positlon.

In order to effect an emergency release of pressure fluid from the cylinder 23 after a cutting operation has been partially completed, a by-pass conduit 80 is provided. The by-pass conduit 80 connects the high pressure conduit 30 with the low pressure reservoir conduit 60. The ends of the conduit 80 at its points of connection with the conduits 30 and 60 are normally sealed from each other by a manually operated valve 81. When it is desired to effect an emergency release of fluid from the cylinder 23, the knurled operated member 82 is rotated to open the valve 81. This connects the cylinder 23 with the passageway 60 so that fluid may be exhausted from the cylinder 23 to allow the metal cutting jaws 21 to 0 en.

A modified arrangement of valve mechanism for exhausting pressure from the cylinder 23 is illustrated in Fig. 4. In this showing, the cylinder 23 is provided with an exhaust port 74 which is normally closed by the piston 65 when the jaws 21 are out of their fully closed position. The port 74 is positioned along the side of the cylinder 23 so that it is uncovered by the lower end 75 of the piston ust prior to the point when the metal cutting aws 21 move to their closed position. When the port 74 1S uncovered, the pressure fluid in the cylinder 23 may flow outwardly through a connection 76 and unseat a check valve 77 and thus be exhausted through an outlet connect1on 78. The connection 78 is connected with the conduit 31 as illustrated in Fig. 3 so that the fluid may be returned to the cylinder 50. With the modification shown in Fig. 4, it is necessary to provide and operate a valve 81 or its equivalent any time the jaws 21 are to be opened after a cutting operation has been started since such opemng movement will not take place automatically zla s wi ll be accomplished by the modification shown in In operation, the entire apparatus which may have an overall length of up to 4 or 5 feet can be carried by an operator who will hold the support with one hand engaged with the front end of the section 3 just in back of the intermediate section 4, and with his other hand engaged under the handle 46 much in the manner of carrying a rifle. At the point where a metal cutting operatlon 1s to be performed, the jaws 21 are placed in an effective position with respect to the metal to be cut. The placing of the jaws 21, as well as operation of the pump, is facilitated by the universal adjustment provided by the pivots 5 and 6. These pivots enable a cutting operation to be effected with the upper carrying section 2 extending at an angle relative to the rear section 3. In this manner, a bolt positioned around a corner may be cut while the rear section is held in a horizontal position to facilitate operation of the pump. It is thus not necessary to support any part of the apparatus in an unwieldy angular position while effecting a cutting operation.

Attention is also directed to the fact that the arrangement of the pump 35 and handle 46 enables the operator supportlng the apparatus to operate the pump without setting the apparatus down. Support is provided by engagement of the fingers of one hand under the handle 46. Without releasing this support, the pump handle 40 may be operated by the heel and thumb of the same hand exerting a squeezing action thereagainst. This operation Will not interfere with the ability of the operator to hold or move the support 1.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this is merely by way of illustration, and that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the contemplation of the invention and under the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A portable and hydraulically operated nipper apparatus for cutting metal comprising an elongated beamlike portable support, a pair of levers pivoted together on one end of said support and respectively having a cutting jaw at one end and an operating arm at the other end, a fluid pressure cylinder extending transversely of said support and having connections at its ends with said arms for actuating the arms to move said jaws to effect a metal cutting operation, a hand pump mounted on the other end of said support and including a cylinder extending transversely of the support, and a conduit extending along said support for delivering fluid pressure from said pump to said cylinder.

2. A portable and hydraulically operated nipper apparatus for cutting metal comprising an elongated beamlike portable support, a pair of levers pivoted together on one end of said support and respectively having a cutting jaw at one end and an operating arm at the other end, a fluid pressure cylinder extending transversely of said support and having connections at its ends with said arms for actuating the arms to move said jaws to effect a metal cutting operation, a hand pump mounted on the other end of said support and including a cylinder extending transversely of the support, a manual operating lever pivoted to said support and having a spring biasing it in one direction of pivotal movement, a piston slidable in said cylinder and having a connection with said operating lever for actuation thereby, a stationary grip on said support and underlying said operating lever whereby the lever and said pump may be operated by exerting a squeezing action with one hand while the operators other hand is in supporting engagement with said support at a point intermediate said cylinders, and conduit means interconnecting said cylinders.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 characterized by said manual operating lever extending rearwardly from its pivotal connection in a direction aligned with said beam-like support.

4. A portable and hydraulically operated nipper apparatus for cutting metal comprising an elongated beamlike portable support, a pair of levers pivoted together on one end of said support and respectively having a cutting jaw at one end and an operating arm at the other end, a fluid pressure cylinder having connections at its ends with said arms for actuating the arms in one direction of pivotal movement to move said jaws to effect a metal cutting operation, a spring biasing said arms for movement in an opposite direction of pivotal movement, and means including a bypass conduit for exhausting fluid from said cylinder in response to movement of said jaws to a predetermined cutting position to render said spring operable to move said arms and thereby said jaws out of said predetermined position.

5. A portable and hydraulically operated nipper apparatus for cutting metal comprising an elongated beamlike portable support, a pair of levers pivoted together on one end of said support and respectively having a cut ting jaw at one end, an operating arm at the other end, a fluid pressure cylinder and piston having connections at their ends with said arms for actuating the arms in one direction of pivotal movement to move said jaws to effect a metal cutting operation, a spring biasing said arms for movement in an opposite direction of pivotal movement, a hand pump mounted on the other end of said support and including a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder and means for manually actuating said piston to deliver fluid pressure to said first-named cylinder, and means including a bypass conduit for exhausting fluid from said first-named cylinder in response to movement of said jaws to a predetermined cutting position to render said spring operable to move said arms and thereby said jaws out of said predetermined position.

6. A portable and hydraulically operated nipper ap said support and including a fluid pressure cylinder with a piston reciprocable therein and reciprocating means therefor comprising a manual operating lever pivoted to said support and having a spring biasing it in one direction of pivotal movement, a stationary grip on said support and underlying said operating lever whereby the lever and said pump may be operated by exerting a squeezing action with one hand while the operators other hand is in supporting engagement with said support at a point intermediate said cylinders, conduit means interconnecting said cylinders, and means including a bypass conduit for exhausting fluid from said first-named cylinder in response to movement of said jaws to a predetermined cutting position to render said spring operable to move said arms and thereby said jaws out of said predetermined position.

7. A portable and hydraulically operated nipper apparatus for cutting metal comprising an elongated beamlike portable support, a pair of levers pivoted together on one end of said support and respectively having a cutting jaw at one end and an operating arm at the other end, an expansible hydraulic cylinder extending transversely of said support and having connections at its ends for actuating said arms to move said jaws to effect a metal cutting operation, and means mounting said cylinder on said support including a connection allow ing sliding movement of the cylinder longitudinally of said support in response to arcuate movement of its ends upon pivotal movement of said arms.

8. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said connection comprises a bracket secured to said expansible cylinder and a pin and slot connection for said bracket with said support.

9. A portable and hydraulically operated nipper apparatus for cutting metal comprising an elongated beamlike portable support, said support being comprised of two sections having a connection including a pivot therebetween for adjusting their positions relatively to each other, a pair of levers pivoted together on one end of said support and respectively having a cutting jaw at one end and an operating arm at the other end, a fluid pressure cylinder having connections with said arms for moving said jaws to effect a metal cutting operation, a hand pump mounted on the other end of said support, and conduit means extending along said support for delivering fluid pressure from said pump to said cylinder and including a flexible conduit extending between said sections at their point of adjustable connection.

10. A portable and hydraulically operated nipper ap paratus for cutting metal comprising a pair of levers pivoted together and providing a pair of cutting jaws and a pair of operating arms therefor, a fluid pressure cylinder connected with said arms for closing said jaws to effect a metal cutting operation, a spring connected with said arms for opening said jaws, and a by-pass valve means connected with said cylinder and responsive to movement of said jaws to a predetermined closed position to thereby render said spring operative to move said jaws to open position.

11. A portable and hydraulically operated nipper apparatus for cutting metal comprising a pair of levers pivoted together and providing a pair of cutting jaws and a pair of operating arms therefor, a fluid pressure cylinder connected with said arms for closing said jaws to effect a metal cutting operation, a spring connected with said arms for opening said jaws, and by-pass valve means including an exhaust port connected with the interior of said cylinder, a conduit connected with said port, a valve controlling the exhaust of fluid through said conduit, and a part connected to and movable with said cylinder for opening said valve when said jaws move to paratus for cutting metal comprismg an elongated beamlike portable support, a pair of levers pivoted together on one end of said support and respectively having a cutting jaw at one end, an operating arm at the other end, a fluid pressure cylinder and piston having connections at their ends with said arms for actuating the arms in one direction of pivotal movement to move said jaws to effect a metal cutting operation, a spring biasing said arms for movement in an opposite direction of pivotal movement, a hand pump mounted on the other end of a predetermined closed position.

12. A portable and hydraulically operated nipper apparatus for cutting metal comprising a pair of levers pivoted together and providing a pair of cutting jaws and a pair of operating arms therefor, a fluid pressure cylinder connected with said arms for closing said jaws to effect a metal cutting operation, a spring connected with said arms for opening said jaws, a hand pump for supplying fluid pressure to said cylinder, and a by-pass valve means connected with said cylinder and responsive to movement of said jaws to a predetermined closed position to thereby render said spring operative to move said jaws to open position.

13. A portable and hydraulically operated nipper apparatus for cutting metal comprising a pair of levers pivoted together and providing a pair of cutting jaws and a pair of operating arms therefor, a fluid pressure cylinder connected with said arms for closing said jaws to efiect a metal cutting operation, a spring connected with said arms for opening said jaws, and a fluid pressure system for supplying fluid pressure to said cylinder comprising a reciprocable hand pump, a fluid reservoir containing a supply of fiuid and comprising a reservoir cylinder having a piston therein with a spring biasing the movement of the piston in one axial direction to provide an expansible reservoir chamber which is filled with fluid at all times, conduit means for connecting said reservoir chamber with said pump including a check-valve which opens on the suction stroke of the pump and closes on the pressure stroke thereof, and conduit means for connecting said pump with said fluid pressure cylinder Which includes a check-valve which closes on the suction stroke of the pump and opens on the pressure stroke thereof.

14. Nipper apparatus as claimed in claim 13 characterized by the provision of a by-pass conduit for interconnecting said conduit means with each other including a manually operable valve for controlling the movement of fluid through the by-pass conduit, opening of said manually operable valve being efiective to exhaust fluid 'to thereby render said spring operative to move said aws.

15. Nipper apparatus as claimed in claim 13 characterized by the provision of by-pass valve means including an exhaust port connected with the interior of said cylinder, a conduit connected with said port, a valve controlling the exhaust of fluid through said conduit, and a part connected to and movable with said cylinder for opening said valve when said jaws move to a predetermined closed position.

16. Nipper apparatus as claimed in claim 15 characterized by said exhaust port conduit having a connection for returning fluid from said cylinder to said reservoir.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 390,165 Hall Sept. 25, 1888 596,066 Helwig Dec. 28, 1897 693,231 Carter Feb. 11, 1902 2,247,723 Chial July 1, 1941 2,366,909 Johnson Jan. 9, 1945 

